Man charged with DUI in Tuesday crash that closed U.S. 301

A 21-year-old man was driving drunk, without a license and on the wrong side of the road when his van struck a tanker trailer on U.S. Route 301 on Tuesday morning, according to police.

By Scott Goss

A 21-year-old man was driving drunk, without a license and on the wrong side of the road when his van struck a tanker trailer on U.S. Route 301 on Tuesday morning, according to police.

The crash forced the closure of Route 301 for several hours and sent both drivers to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said Yuni Gonzalez was driving a 2002 Chevrolet van north in the southbound lane of Route 301, about 500 feet north of the intersection with Warwick Road, at about 2 a.m. when his vehicle struck a 2006 Peterbilt towing a tanker trailer carrying latex paint.

The collision forced the tanker trailer onto its side, across both lanes of the highway, according to Delaware State Police spokesman Cpl. John Day.

The driver of the tanker, 49-year-old David Strang of Elmer, N.J., was wearing seatbelt and suffered only minor injuries.

Day said it is unknown whether Gonzalez was properly restrained. Police also had not determined where Gonzalez lives as of 10:45 a.m.

Gonzalez is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on the wrong side of the roadway, driving without a license and failing to provide proof of insurance.

Day said officials from DNREC have responded to the scene of the crash to remove the paint from the damaged tanker trailer.